Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There were alien marks of dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage, and on the first step of the stairs a spot of blood.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
activity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
adventure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
alarm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
alien
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From this reading There were alien marks of dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage, and on the first step of the stairs a spot of blood.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
bloodnounUS /blood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There were alien marks of dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage, and on the first step of the stairs a spot of blood.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
called
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
clean
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were alien marks of dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage, and on the first step of the stairs a spot of blood.
closed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
crumpled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a crumpled paper in her hand.
desertedverbUS /dɪˈzɜːrtɪd/
left a place or vessel without intending to return
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
door
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
drove
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
dusty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were alien marks of dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage, and on the first step of the stairs a spot of blood.
faint
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
feet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were alien marks of dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage, and on the first step of the stairs a spot of blood.
finger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There were alien marks of dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage, and on the first step of the stairs a spot of blood.
floor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
genuine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading She had a crumpled paper in her hand.
Hale
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a crumpled paper in her hand.
hasty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
heavy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
house
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
impatiently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading She had a crumpled paper in her hand.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
Kate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
Kate's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
leaned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
lip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
lower
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
marks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were alien marks of dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage, and on the first step of the stairs a spot of blood.
mindnounUS /mind/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
Mrs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
namenounUS /name/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
paper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading She had a crumpled paper in her hand.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
passagenounUS /ˈpassage/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading There were alien marks of dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage, and on the first step of the stairs a spot of blood.
previous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
rustle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
scrupulously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were alien marks of dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage, and on the first step of the stairs a spot of blood.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
sister's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
sitting-room
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
skirts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
smile
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
sound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
spot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were alien marks of dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage, and on the first step of the stairs a spot of blood.
staircase
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
stairs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were alien marks of dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage, and on the first step of the stairs a spot of blood.
stepnounUS /step/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There were alien marks of dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage, and on the first step of the stairs a spot of blood.
steps
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
subdued
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
suddennounUS /sudden/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
surprise
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
swept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
ToparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
unceremoniously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
unusual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To Kate's surprise, the lower part of the house was deserted, but there was an unusual activity on the floor above, and the sound of heavy steps.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were alien marks of dusty feet on the scrupulously clean passage, and on the first step of the stairs a spot of blood.
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading With a sudden genuine alarm that drove her previous adventure from her mind, she impatiently called her sister's name.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading There was a hasty yet subdued rustle of skirts on the staircase, and Mrs. Hale, with her finger on her lip, swept Kate unceremoniously into the sitting-room, closed the door, and leaned back against it, with a faint smile.
